Difference between revisions of "Regression"

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==Sigmund Freud==
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[[Freud]] introduced the [[concept]] of [[regression]] in longing for a protective [[father]],<ref>{{F}} ''[[Works of Sigmund Freud|The Future of an Illusion]]'', 1927c: [[SE]] XXI, 22-4</ref> and described [[The Interpretation of Dreams]] in [[order]] to explain the [[visual]] [[nature]] of [[dreams]].
  
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The psychic reversion to childhood desires. When normally functioning desire meets with powerful external obstacles, which prevent satisfaction of those desires, the subject sometimes regresses to an earlier phase in normal psychosexual development."Regression," as a term, is closely connected to the term, fixation; the stronger one's fixations on earlier sexual objects (eg. the mouth, the anus), the more likely that, when a subject is confronted with obstacles to heterosexual satisfaction, that subject will respond by way of regression to an earlier phase. Example: a normally functioning woman is dumped by her boyfriend and starts over-eating (thus regressing to the oral phase). Regression can result either in neurosis (if accompanied by repression) or in perversion: "A regression of the libido without repression would never produce a neurosis but would lead to a perversion" (Introductory Lectures 16.344). In our example, the neurotic begins over-eating; the pervert gives up men and becomes a lesbian (a sexual identity that Freud saw as perversion, though many have since critiqued him on this point).
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Basing himself on a [[topographical]] [[model]] in which the [[psyche]] is conceived of as a series of distinct systems, [[Freud]] argued that during [[sleep]] [[progress]]ive access to motor [[activity]] is blocked, thus forcing [[thoughts]] to travel regressively through these systems towards the [[system]] of [[perception]].<ref>{{F}} ''[[The Interpretation of Dreams]]'', 1900a: [[SE]] V, 538-55</ref>
  
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He later added a passage to this section distinguishing between this [[topographical]] kind of [[regression]] and what he called [[temporal]] [[regression]] (when the subject reverts to previous phases of [[development]]) and [[formal]] [[regression]]. (the use of modes of expression which are less [[complex]] than [[others]]).<ref>{{F}} ''[[The Interpretation of Dreams]]'', 1900a: [[SE]] V, 548</ref>
  
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==Jacques Lacan==
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[[Lacan]] argues that the concept of [[regression]] has been one of the most misunderstood [[concepts]] in [[psychoanalytic theory]].
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In [[particular]], he criticises the 'magical' view of [[regression]], according to which [[regression]] is seen as a [[real]] phenomenon, in which [[adults]] "actually regress, return to the [[state]] of a small [[child]], and start wailing."
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In this [[sense]] of the term, "[[regression]] does [[exist]]."<ref>{{S2}} p. 103</ref>
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In [[place]] of this misconception, [[Lacan]] argues that [[regression]] must be [[understood]] first and foremost in a [[topographical]] sense, which is the way [[Freud]] understood the term when he introduced it in 1900, and not in a [[temporal]] sense.
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In [[other]] [[words]], "there is [[regression]] on the plane of [[signification and not on the plane of [[reality]]."<ref>{{S2}} p. 103</ref>
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Thus [[regression]] is to be understood "not in the [[instinct]]ual sense, nor in the sense of the resurgence of something anterior," but in the sense of "the reduction of the [[symbolic]] to the [[imaginary]]."<ref>{{S4}} p. 242</ref>
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===Temporal Regression===
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Insofar as [[regression]] can be said to have a [[temporal]] sense, it does not involve the [[subject]] "going back in [[time]]," but rather a rearticulation of certain [[demand]]s:
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"[[Regression]] shows [[nothing]] other than a [[return]] to the [[present]] of [[signifier]]s used in [[demand]]s for which there is a prescription."<ref>{{E}} p.255</ref>
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[[Regression]] to the [[oral stage]], for example, is to be understood in [[terms]] of the articulation of [[oral]] [[demand]]s (the [[demand]] to be fed, evident in the [[demand]] for the [[analyst]] to supply [[interpretation]]s).
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When understood in this sense, [[Lacan]] reaffirms the importance of [[regression]] in [[psychoanalytic treatment]], arguing that [[regression]] to the [[anal stage]], for example, is so important that no [[analysis]] which has not encountered this can be called [[complete]].<ref>{{S8}} p. 242</ref>
  
 
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Latest revision as of 22:03, 20 May 2019

French: régression

Sigmund Freud

Freud introduced the concept of regression in longing for a protective father,[1] and described The Interpretation of Dreams in order to explain the visual nature of dreams.

Basing himself on a topographical model in which the psyche is conceived of as a series of distinct systems, Freud argued that during sleep progressive access to motor activity is blocked, thus forcing thoughts to travel regressively through these systems towards the system of perception.[2]

He later added a passage to this section distinguishing between this topographical kind of regression and what he called temporal regression (when the subject reverts to previous phases of development) and formal regression. (the use of modes of expression which are less complex than others).[3]

Jacques Lacan

Lacan argues that the concept of regression has been one of the most misunderstood concepts in psychoanalytic theory.

In particular, he criticises the 'magical' view of regression, according to which regression is seen as a real phenomenon, in which adults "actually regress, return to the state of a small child, and start wailing."

In this sense of the term, "regression does exist."[4]

In place of this misconception, Lacan argues that regression must be understood first and foremost in a topographical sense, which is the way Freud understood the term when he introduced it in 1900, and not in a temporal sense.

In other words, "there is regression on the plane of [[signification and not on the plane of reality."[5]

Thus regression is to be understood "not in the instinctual sense, nor in the sense of the resurgence of something anterior," but in the sense of "the reduction of the symbolic to the imaginary."[6]

Temporal Regression

Insofar as regression can be said to have a temporal sense, it does not involve the subject "going back in time," but rather a rearticulation of certain demands:

"Regression shows nothing other than a return to the present of signifiers used in demands for which there is a prescription."[7]

Regression to the oral stage, for example, is to be understood in terms of the articulation of oral demands (the demand to be fed, evident in the demand for the analyst to supply interpretations).

When understood in this sense, Lacan reaffirms the importance of regression in psychoanalytic treatment, arguing that regression to the anal stage, for example, is so important that no analysis which has not encountered this can be called complete.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Freud, Sigmund. The Future of an Illusion, 1927c: SE XXI, 22-4
  2. ↑ Freud, Sigmund. The Interpretation of Dreams, 1900a: SE V, 538-55
  3. ↑ Freud, Sigmund. The Interpretation of Dreams, 1900a: SE V, 548
  4. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book II. The Ego in Freud's Theory and in the Technique of Psychoanalysis, 1954-55. Trans. Sylvana Tomaselli. New York: Nortion; Cambridge: Cambridge Unviersity Press, 1988. p. 103
  5. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book II. The Ego in Freud's Theory and in the Technique of Psychoanalysis, 1954-55. Trans. Sylvana Tomaselli. New York: Nortion; Cambridge: Cambridge Unviersity Press, 1988. p. 103
  6. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre IV. La relation d'objet, 19566-57. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1991. p. 242
  7. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.255
  8. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre VIII. Le transfert, 1960-61. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1991. p. 242


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